Spring plankless car truck



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Oct. 21, 1947. R. B.' coTTRr-:LL

SPRING P-LANKLESS CAR TRUCK Y Filed Jan. 6, 1944 Ovzt. 21, 1947. R. B. coTTRELL.

SPRING PLANKLESS CAR TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jam.v 6, 1944 i vINVENTOR. @Ye/ 69%' Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNIED 2,429,399 f seams rLANKLEss can 'rauen Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assigner to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 6, 1944, Serial No. 517,164

Claims. l

My invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to a spring plankless type truck.

The general object of my invention is to provide a novel tie means interconnecting the side frames for maintaining the same in squared relationship with respect to the truck bolster.

A specific object of my invention is to designa novel truck oi the above described type in which a tie bar extends between the side frames and is resiliently urged into engagement therewith by means of springs carried by the tie bar and bearing against adjacent portions of the side frames.

My invention comprehends a novel form of truck side frame, the tension member of which is formed beneath the bolster opening with a top chord widened and provided with upstanding inboard and outboard anges defining a spring seat for an associated bolster supporting spring group. A substantially horizontal web projects from the inboard flange and comprises interlocking means for the associated tie bar as well as a bottom abutment surface for resilient means carried by the tie bar,

My invention also comprehends a novel tie bar comprising at each end thereof interlocking means for the associated side frame, and a at bar spring secured to the bottom of said bar adjacent said interlocking means, said spring being adapted for engagement with an abutment surface on the associated side frame.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken inthe transverse vertical plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the bolster shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the bolster removed and the side frame shown in Section through the columns thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of my novel form of tie bar.

Describing my invention in detail, the side frame comprises tension and compression members 2 and 4 and a column 6 merging therewith adjacent each end of the frame to define a window opening 8 and a central bolster opening I0,

The tension member 2 is of box section beneath the bolster opening and comprises the top and bottom chords l2 and I4, as well as the inboard and outboard walls IB and I8, said top chord lll being widened beneath the bolster opening Il) and formed with the upstanding inboard and outboard flanges 23 and 22 defining the spring seat 24 upon which are positioned the bolster supporting coil springs 26, 26, the seat 24 comprising the spring positioning lugs 28, 28 (Figure 3). It may be noted that the spring positioning lugs 28, 28 on the spring seat 24 are disposed in an arrangement wherein two of the lugs are arranged contiguous to the inboard flange 2B and longitudinally of the side frame, and that two of the lugs 28 are contiguous to the outboard iiange 22 and are also disposed longitudinally of the side frame, the respective lugs merging with the associated inboard and outboard anges 20 and 22, as well as the spring seat. Also two lugs are disposed adjacent each end of the spring seat and spaced from the inboard and outboard webs 2Q and 22, each pair of lugs extending transversely of the side frame, one each of the lugs 28, 28 disposed longitudinally of the side frame and transversely of the side frame cooperating with two of the lugs centrally disposed on the spring seat for positioning an adjacent spring 26, the spring positioning lugs having arcuate faces, as clearly seen in Figure 3 for engagement with the associated spring 25 for positioning the spring on the spring seat of the side frame, and if desired, an additional spring may be inserted within the lugs disposed centrally of the side frame.

Supported on the springs 26, 26 is a bolster generally designated 3B and comprising at each side thereof the inboard and outboard guide lugs 32 and 3d cooperating with the adjacent column 6 to afford an interlock between the side frame and the bolster, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art. It may be noted that the outboard lugs 34, 3d are ef less depth than the widened upper portion 36 of the bolster opening, as clearly seen in Figure 1, whereby the bolster 38 may be elevated in the bolster opening and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change while the bolster supporting springs 26, 2S remain in normal assembled relationship with the side frame. The bolster as illustrated is particularly designed to house therewithin at each side thereof a friction device for cooperation with the adjacent column 6. The detailed construction of the bolster and the friction devices is illustrated and described in detail in a co-pending application, Serial No, 436,731, led March 30, 1942, in the United States Patent Ofce in the name of David M. Light; and this structure is not therefore described in detail herein inasmuch as it is not pertinent to the present invention.

The inboard ange 2!) is formed at its lower eX- tremity with the substantially horizontal web 38 having on the top thereof the spaced upstanding lugs 40, 40 formed and arranged for reception within complementary openings 42, 42 in the tie bar 44, which extends between the side frames and is connected to each thereof for maintaining the same in squared relationship with the bolster 30, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, each of said lugs comprising an opening 4I for the reception of a cotter or similar securing means if desired. The web 38 is reinforced by the spaced substantially Vertical ribs 39, 39. A tie bar 44 is seated at 4B (Figure 2) lon the top of the horizontal web 38, and a bar spring 48 is secured as at 50, 50 to the bottom of the tie bar 44 adjacent each extremity thereof, said spring bearing as at 52 against the lower surface of the web 38, whereby the bar 44 is urged downwardly into tight abutment with said web as at 46.

It may be noted that the bar 44 is formed at each side thereof with the upstanding longitudinally extending flange 54, the flanges `54, 54 serving to strengthen the bar 44 Vand being spaced apart agreater distance than the width ofthe body portion of the'bolster 30 to permit vertical oscillation of the bolster on the springs V26, 26.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one end of my novel tie bar 44 prior to its assembly with the associated side frame. It will be noted in this View that the spring 48 is placed under tension by means of a wedge Vl' interposed between the bar 44 and the spring 48, thus permitting the bar and the spring to beslipped over the web 38 of theassociated side frame. It will be understood that thereafter Vthe wedge 56 ,is removed and the spring Y58 snaps against the web 38 to urgeothe bar 44 into engagement therewith as ais-4B,

Alit is to be understood that I do not wish to be ylimited by the eXact-embodimentof `the device shown which is merely by way -of illustration -and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, -of course,V be Kapparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A side framefor a-railway car truck comprising a box-section bottom member including top and bottom chords `and spaced inboard and 'I' outboard webs interconnecting said chords, said top chord being widened to extend outwardly .of said webs, a spring seat von the top surface of said top` chord,a ver-tical upstanding flange on the outboard side vof said tcp chord, an L--shaped n flange on the inboard side o-f said top chord, the vertical web of .said vL-shaped flange extending abovesaid top chordand deflningwith said out- ,boardl iiange spring-.positioningY means, vand a horizontal web -on said L-shapedflange projecting from the lower extremity of said Vertical .web intermediate .the ends ofsaid framev and beneath said top chord, said horizontal .web being disposed in a horizontal plane approximately bisecting said inboard and outboard webs, a plurality of spaced interlocking means on the upper surface of said horizontalweb for securing an associated tie bar thereto, and a plurality of substantially vertical reinforcingY ribs beneath said top chord, each of said ribs merging with saidinboard web and with `the'bottoinof said top chord and extending outboardly of said inboard lweb beneath said horizontal web-andmerging 2. In a side frame for a railway car truck, ten- 4 sion and compression members and spaced co1- umns defining therewith a bolster opening, said tension member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening and comprising top and bottom chords and spaced inboard and outboard webs connecting said chords, said top chord being widened to extend outwardly of said webs and providing a spring seat, a vertical upstanding flange on the outboard side of said top chord, and an L-shaped ange on the inboard side of said top chord, the vertical web of said L-shaped flange extending above said top chord and defining with said outboard flange spring positioning means and the horizontal web of said L- shaped iiange projecting from the lower extremity of said vertical web intermediate the ends of said frame and beneath said top chord, said hori zontal web lying in a plane bisecting said inboard and outboard webs and aording a support for an associated tie bar, interlocking means onthe upper surface of said horizontal web for securing an associated tie bar to the side frame, said interlocking means comprising a plurality of upstanding lugs for reception within compleinentary openings in the associated tie bar, and a plurality of substantially vertical reinforcing webs beneath said top chord adjacent opposite ends thereof, eachof said ribs merging with said inboard web and the bottom of said top chord and extending outwardly of said inboard web beneath said horizontal web and merging with said horizontal web- 3. In a side frame for a railway car truck, tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said tension member being of box section beneath said bolster opening and comprising top and bottom chords and spaced inboard andoutboard webs connecting said chords, said top chord being widened-to extend outwardly of said Webs land providing a springseat, a plurality of lugs on said spring seat having arcuate faces for positioning at least four springs on Asaid seat, certain of said lugs being disposed centrally of said spring seat ,and each cooperating with other lugs on said seat for positioning said springs, a vertical upstanding flange on the outboard side of said top chord, andan .L-shaped flange on the inboard side of said top chord, the vertical web of said L-shaped flange extending above said top chord and defining with said outboard ange spring-positioning means and the horizontal web of said L- shaped flange projecting from the lower extremity` of said vertical web intermediate the ends of said frame and beneath said top chord, said hoii- Azontal web lying in la'plane bisecting said inboard 'and outboard webs and affording a support for an associated tie bar, interlocking means on the upper surface of said horizontal web for securing an associated tie bar to the side frame, said interlocking means comprising av-plurality of upstanding lugs for reception within complementary openings in the associated tie bar, and a plurality of substantially -vertical reinforcing Webs beneath said top chord adjacent opposite ends thereon-each of said webs merging with said inboard .web and the bottom, of said top chord -and extending .outwardly of said inboard web beneathsaid horizontalvweb and merging with said lhorizontal web.

Lfl. 'In a side frame forja railway car truck, tension and compression `members -and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said tension member being of box-section beneath `said bolster opening and comprising top and bottom chords and spaced inboard and outboard webs connecting said chords, said top chord being widened to extend outwardly of said webs and providing a spring seat, a plurality of lugs on said spring seat having arcuate faces for positioning at least four springs on said seat, certain of said lugs being disposed centrally of said spring seat and each cooperating with other lugs on said seat for positioning said springs, a vertical upstanding flange on the outboard side of said top chord, and an L-shaped flange on the inboard side of said top chord, the vertical web of said L-shaped flange extending above said top chord and defining with said outboard flange spring positioning means and the horizontal web of said L-shaped ange projecting from the lower extremity of said Vertical web intermediate the ends of said frame and beneath said top chord, said horizontal web lying in a plane bisecting said inboard and outboard webs and affording a support for an associated tie bar, interlocking means on the upper surface of said horizontal Web for securing an associated tie bar to the side frame, and a plu.- rality of substantially Vertical reinforcing webs beneath said top chord adjacent opposite ends thereof, each of said webs merging with said inboard web and the bottom of said top chord and extending outwardly of said inboard web beneath said horizontal web and .merging with said horizontal web.

5. In a side frame for a railway car truck, tension and compression members and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening, said tension member being of box section beneath said bolster opening and comprising top and bottom chords and spaced inboard and outboard webs connecting said chords, said top chord being widened to extend outwardly of said webs and providing a spring seat, a vertical upstanding flange on the outboard side of said top chord, and an L-shaped flange on the inboard side of said top chord, the Vertical web of said L-shaped flange extending above said top chord and dening with said outboard flange spring positioning means and the horizontal web of said L-shaped flange projecting from the lower extremity of said vertical web intermediate the ends of said frame and beneath said top chord, said horizontal web lying in a horizontal plane approximately bisecting said inboard and outboard webs and affording a apport for an associated tie bar, interlocking means on the upper surface of said horizontal web for securing an associated tie bar to the side frame, and a substantially vertical reinforcing web beneath said top chord merging with said inboard web and the bottom of said top chord and extending outwardly of said inboard web beneath said horizontal web and merging with said horizontal web beneath said interlocking means.

ROBERT B. COTTRELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,414,917 Anderson May 2, 1922 1,763,221 Clasen June 10, 1930 2,130,141 Light Sept. 13, 1938 2,201,441 Light May 21, 1940 1,941,159 Tatum Dec. 26, 1933 

